Current Miller Fellows

My interests lie broadly in theoretical computer science, particularly in the construction of useful primitives for communication and computation. In the past, I have worked on building error-correcting codes, expander graphs, and cryptographic proof systems. I am particularly interested in connections between these objects, and also in understanding the tools needed to construct these objects explicitly.

Host: Venkatesan Guruswami

Ph.D. Institution: MIT

Modern machine learning has outstripped attempts to theoretically explain its success from first principles. My research instead takes a modular approach to theory-building: how, and when, can the fundamental building blocks of machine learning be composed to solve more complex problems? My past work has applied this perspective to understand the problem of learning to make reliable sequences of decisions, and to develop algorithms that can prevent the errors in these building blocks from compounding.

Host: Jason Lee

Ph.D. Institution: MIT

My doctoral research has focused on how collective quantum behavior emerges from interacting electrons in two-dimensional materials, especially graphene-based systems, where correlations, topology, and symmetry breaking give rise to unexpected phases of matter. As a Miller Fellow, I plan to develop new approaches to probe these quantum phases in greater depth while also exploring new directions in quantum science, including quantum information and quantum sensing.

Host: Feng Wang

Ph.D. Institution: MIT

My research interests lie in using near-infrared observations of AGB stars from space-based telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to address pressing questions about cosmic expansion and galaxy evolution. For example, I am interested in developing new techniques to reconstruct the formation histories of galaxies from their resolved AGB stellar populations. I am also interested in using AGB stars to measure distances to nearby galaxies to determine the local expansion rate of the Universe.

Host: Daniel Weisz

Ph.D. Institution: University of Chicago

I am broadly interested in probability theory, mathematical physics, and the mathematics of complex systems. So far, my research has focused on Kardar–Parisi–Zhang (KPZ) universality, a phenomenon that governs large-scale fluctuations in many seemingly unrelated random models arising in diverse contexts. As a Miller Fellow, I aim to understand how universal laws emerge from large interacting systems, and to develop mathematical frameworks that explain the emergence of structures from randomness.

Host: Alan Hammond

Ph.D. Institution: Columbia University

Materials interfaces are complex and sensitive. Their nanoscale heterogeneity, reactivity, and passivation characteristics govern device performance. Understanding and designing functional materials interfaces are key to achieving high-performance devices. As a Miller Fellow, I aim to develop and characterize functional materials interfaces that enable next-generation electronic hardware.

Host: Sayeef Salahuddin (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science), Nitash Balsara (Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering)

Ph.D. Institution: Stanford University

My Ph.D. research focused on optical spectroscopy of exotic quantum materials, including the discovery of a condensed-matter analog of the dark matter axion. In my postdoctoral work, I am pivoting toward organic molecular crystals for quantum optical applications. Rather than using lasers to trap isolated atoms or ions, I investigate how organic ligands can chemically confine lanthanide and actinide ions to form molecular qubits. This highly interdisciplinary research spans synthetic chemistry, optical spectroscopy, and quantum engineering to develop controllable molecular platforms for next...

Functional innovations can determine how biodiversity is distributed because they often alter the trajectory and pace of evolutionary diversification. My research explores the origins and evolutionary consequences of complex teeth, a major vertebrate innovation, in fishes. As a Miller Fellow, I will integrate comparative genomics and molecular genetics to identify the mechanisms by which tooth complexity rapidly arises at both phylogenetic and organismal scales.

Host: Craig Miller (Molecular & Cell Biology), Christopher Martin (Integrative Biology)

Ph.D. Institution: UC Davis

Inferring past demographic and selective events from patterns of genetic variation in present-day or ancient populations is a central goal of population genetics. My research combines theoretical and computational approaches to develop methods that reconstruct how populations have diverged, exchanged genetic material, and been shaped by natural selection over time. By building new tools and analyzing genomic data, I aim to better understand the evolutionary forces that shape genetic variation within and between species.

Host: Priya Moorjani

Ph.D. Institution: Brown University

My research bridges physics and engineering, focusing on nanoscale light-matter interactions and the design of metamaterials for imaging, optical information processing, and X-ray technologies. Some of my recent interests include understanding and controlling structured illumination to induce different optical responses in materials. At Berkeley, I will develop ultracompact multi-dimensional imaging systems and computational algorithms to advance the frontier of co-designed hardware and software.

Host: Laura Waller, Boubacar Kante

Ph.D. Institution: Stanford University